Wyze makes many smart home devices that are powerful and easy to use, and the Wyze Bulb Color lives up to that reputation. It's bright, with bold colors and extensive customizability. Plus, it doesn't cost very much, especially if you want to outfit several rooms with multiple bulbs. If you're new to smart lighting and want something both affordable and versatile, you can't go wrong with Wyze.

While it doesn't offer many light bulb types, it makes a floor lamp, light strip, and rechargeable night lights. In terms of features, it works well with Alexa and Google Assistant, although it doesn't support the Apple HomeKit.

The app is straightforward, and it's easy to set contingencies and schedules. Plus, you don't need to purchase a hub. You'll need a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network with internet access for setup and operation, but you can also control Wyze smart bulbs over Bluetooth once they're installed. The only minor drawback is that they don't support dynamic lighting effects such as music synchronization.

Philips Hue is hands-down the best performing smart lighting ecosystem you can get into right now. It offers the most in-depth customization options, including scheduling and If This Then That programming. The control interface is one of the most intuitive and allows for precise control of up to 50 lights using the company's proprietary hub and some third-party controllers. It's compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit and works swimmingly with voice control. It also boasts a variety of lighting for indoor and outdoor use. You'll also find far more than standard light bulbs in the Hue arsenal, as it offers the widest selection of wall lamps and freestanding lamps of any of the competition. Hue is also committed to continuing this dominance, with second-generation bulbs and lamps already in development.

There's a lot to like about Philips Hue bulbs overall, but there is one significant drawback. The individual lights are quite expensive, and to get the most out of them, you'll need to also invest in a Philips Hue bridge. The starter kit we've highlighted includes four multicolored bulbs, a bridge, and a wall-mountable control switch that can make it easier for smart home newcomers to get the hang of using smart bulbs.

If all you want is to replace some standard light bulbs with smart ones, TP-Link Kasa smart lighting is a good low-cost choice. They configure with minimal hassle on your 2.4GHz home network, give you access to 16 million colors, and let you assign entire groups to turn on and off at your request. There aren't many other brands as well-known as TP-Link that offer reliable lighting with a decent variety. Instead of simple multicolor bulbs, you can opt for light strips and two variants of rustic, filament-style LED bulbs.

While they're dependable and easy to program, they fall short of the competition in terms of brightness. They also don't support the Apple HomeKit, although the TP-Link Kasa app works with iOS (but not Siri). Finally, the most in-depth programming options are only really useful if you have other Kasa smart devices in your home, such as the brand's popular security cameras.

To give any room a futuristic touch, consider the second generation of the ultra-premium Nanoleaf Shapes lineup. There are triangular and hexagonal versions, and unlike the first edition, you can mix and match the two with an expansion pack. They're among the most stylish smart lights available and often used by some of the most famous video game streamers. While Nanoleaf lighting is pretty unconventional, it still offers impressive smart home integration, and you can install it on most walls without drilling any holes.

Essentially customizable smart LED artwork, there aren't many other lighting brands that can transform a space the same way. The Nanoleaf Elements wood-look series is a great choice for something both advanced and rustic. You can't synchronize the standard Shapes lineup with your music, but you can if you opt for the Nanoleaf Rhythm or Elements families (although they're not as bright). Unfortunately, it's hard to break into the Nanoleaf ecosystem without spending a chunk of money.

Intended for relatively specific use cases, Ring Smart Lighting works with Ring products such as its latest Video Doorbell 4. While each Ring light works as a simple motion-detecting light right out of the box, the magic happens when you link them through the Ring Bridge or a recent-model Amazon Echo device.

Besides the standard A19 bulb, most Ring lighting products contain integrated sensors that communicate with your entire Ring network when they detect motion. These integrated sensors allow you to program entire sets of motion-activated pathway lights to turn on if a single light detects someone walking toward your home. You can also schedule different lights to turn on or off at specific times and receive mobile notifications when one of your lights is activated. We've highlighted the 2,000-lumen wired outdoor floodlight, but there are also path lights, spotlights, and solar-powered outdoor wall lights in addition to standalone motion detectors.

It's surprisingly difficult to find smart lighting that promises to work perfectly with Apple's popular HomeKit interface. Meross smart lighting does precisely that. And don't worry if you've already invested a ton into the Apple ecosystem; most of Meross's offerings are relatively affordable. In addition to standard bulbs, Meross sells a table lamp, desk lamp, and floodlight. Note that the company has recently released firmware updates that significantly increase connection reliability when used with the HomeKit. The app is easy to use, and voice control is relatively consistent; however, the color bulbs are limited to 800 lumens and don't support the HomeKit's Adaptive Lighting protocol.

While there's nothing wrong with Govee's standard, colored light bulbs, the brand shines considering all the less-conventional lighting styles it offers. That includes boldly colored light bars, freestanding floor lamps, wall-mountable hexagonal light panels, neon rope lights, and immersive accent lighting meant specifically for TVs. If you want to turn a game room or home theater into a dynamically lit wonderland, there aren't any better choices.

The lineup is so advanced that the TV backlight even boasts a high-definition camera that detects the colors and brightness on the TV and adjusts the lights to match in real time, which can greatly enhance the cinematic experience. One of the few complaints is that Govee lighting requires a relatively substantial investment, but with little competition in the way of dynamic accent lighting, that's not surprising.

First of all, many Wiz products and their packaging refer to the lighting giant Philips. However, take note that Wiz bulbs are incompatible with the premium and high-cost Philips Hue lighting lineup, despite Philips actually owning the less expensive Wiz.

Across the decent variety of bulb formats offered, Wiz lighting delivers bold colors, a convenient smartphone app, and presets such as fireplace and Christmas modes to set the mood just right. You can even program multiple set times for dimming, brightening, and color-changing to match your daily routine. One interesting component is the optional Wizmote, one of the few physical remote controls for any of today's smart lighting brands. Also, Wiz is one of the few smart lights that lets you begin setup anonymously. No confirmed user ID or password required to start the process.

LIFX lighting is up there with Philips Hue in terms of reputation. It works with the three biggest smart home voice control ecosystems and offers a wide range of scenes and color customization. In terms of brightness and color depth, it's just about at the front of the pack, maxing out at 1,100 lumens and providing over 500 billion color choices, as opposed to the several million offered by competitors. Using your home's 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network, you can control it from anywhere in the world with internet access. There's also an excellent variety of LIFX products, including smart bulbs with optional high-frequency output for specialized ultraviolet cleaning methods.

Since it offers better light quality than nearly any other, why isn't LIFX considered the best option of all? Some user reviews claim that the initial setup process is slightly buggy, but more importantly, there aren't any other smart bulbs that cost as much as those from LIFX. They're great if you demand peak performance and in-depth voice control, but the cost adds up quickly.

They don't get much cheaper than the simple, hub-free offerings from Sengled. You control them over Bluetooth, they offer a decent selection of programmable controls, and they cost just a few dollars each when you buy a set of four or more. If all you're looking for is replacement bulbs that can change color and warmth, these are as straightforward as they come.

Unfortunately, they're pretty limited as far as advanced features go. For example, they're not compatible with Google Assistant or Siri (although there is an iOS app), and some users even have issues keeping them connected to Alexa. At any rate, if you don't use voice control often, Sengled is a good and cheap solution. It's also one of the few brands with an ultra-bright 100W-equivalent bulb, which Sengled claims can put out up to 1,500 lumens.